The town of Barrhead will continue to ask Alberta Transportation for a crosswalk at Highway 33 and 58 Avenue.
That is the decision councillors unanimously came to during their Feb. 13 meeting, however they are not sure how successful they will be.
The discussion about the crossing was initiated after administration received a letter from a resident saying they need a pedestrian/scooter crossing across the Highway 33 near De Herdt Gardens and Petro Canada.
“It is very dangerous as is,” the writer who wasn’t named said. “At the very least we need a crosswalk and cleared access to the sidewalk in front of the Petro Canada and the KFC.”
The writer went on to say that although they realize a pedestrian crossing across the highway is provincial jurisdiction, the town must take some responsibility to allow people to be able to cross the highway on the east side of town noting the pedestrian activated flashers between the Pembina Hills Public Schools office and the Lutheran Church is too far.
The writer added that they recently witnessed an elderly lady fall down attempting to cross the highway at 50th Avenue.
Coun. Don Smith said numerous councils have worked on getting a pedestrian crossing in that area.
“We’ve written numerous letters to Alberta Transportation asking for a pedestrian crossing with no luck,” he said, adding he believed they should keep trying.
Noting they had a similar issue at the pedestrian activated flashers at the intersection of Highway 33 and 50th Avenue.
“We asked for lights at that corner and for many years they said no and then one day all of a sudden it was being put up,” Smith said. “So I think we should continue to write letters about our concerns on the north end of town and maybe one day they will put up a crosswalk for us.”
Mayor Dave McKenzie said it isn’t as simple as residents might believe.
“I know from my time with [Alberta] Transportation I know there are requirements for crosswalks, corners, sidewalks, all that type of stuff. Then there is that service road with a median in there creates a logistical issue to put that type of infrastructure in there,” he said. “As much as we would like to just make it happen there is a lot of prework that has to be done before they put a crosswalk in there. It isn’t as easy as painting a couple of lines.”
